Ilari Angervo studied the violin as a student of Leena Siukonen at the Sibelius Academy, until switching to the viola and teachers Helge Valtonen and Jouko Mansnerus. He received his diploma with distinction in 1993. Angervo also studied at the Berlin art school in 1988-90 as a pupil of Wolfram Christ, and he has received additional teaching from Matti Hirvikangas and Rainer Moog. Angervo worked as section leader in the Finnish National Opera in 1987-88. He became section leader in the Finnish Radio Symphony orchestra in 1990. Angervo was chairperson for the RSO delegation in 1996-2001.

Ilari Angervo is a founding member of the renowned New Helsinki Quartet. He is also active in the Finnish Chamber Orchestra, Avanti!, Kerberos, and the Uusi Renttukvartetti. Angervo has appeared with the RSO, as well as with most other Finnish orchestras. He premiered Jouni Kaipainen’s viola concerto together with Tapiola Sinfonietta and Hannu Lintu (1999), and Juha T. Koskinen’s Hamlet-machine together with Zagros (2000).